During 03-04 April 2025, H.E. Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India paid an Official Visit to Thailand and participated in the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok, on the invitation of H.E. Ms. Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand. Prime Minister Modi was accorded a ceremonial welcome by Prime Minister Shinawatra at the Government House in Bangkok.
Acknowledging the deep civilisational, cultural, religious and linguistic bonds and 78 years of establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Thailand, both leaders held wide ranging discussions on various areas of bilateral cooperation including defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, science and technology, innovation, space, education, health, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. They also exchanged views on sub-regional, regional, and multilateral issues of mutual interest. Both leaders witnessed exchange of several MoUs covering various areas of cooperation. They also welcomed the establishment of an India-Thailand Consular Dialogue.
Prime Minister Shinawatra and Prime Minister Modi also visited Wat Phra Chetuphon Wimon Mangkhalaram Rajwaramahawihan to pay homage to the historic Reclining Buddha.
Taking into consideration the existing cooperation and the potential for closer cooperation not only at the bilateral and regional levels but also in the global context in view of the rapidly evolving global geopolitical situation, the two leaders agreed to elevate the existing bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership. This marks a new chapter of enhanced partnership for realising the full potential of cooperation between the two countries.
The Strategic Partnership is based on mutual commitment to strengthen bilateral relations for the continuing peace, stability and prosperity of the two countries and their respective regions. The Strategic Partnership will serve as an important foundation for the two countries to chart a future-oriented and mutually-beneficial path towards increasing opportunities, closer cooperation and to jointly respond to common challenges.
The Strategic Partnership will build upon existing agreements and mechanisms of cooperation which encompass partnering in political, defence and security, trade and investment, connectivity, education, socio-cultural development and people-to-people exchanges, as well as other areas of mutual interest.
In an effort to further broaden and deepen the relationship between the two countries, the two leaders agreed to the following:
Political Cooperation
Strengthen political engagement through regular high-level exchanges at the Leadership level, including on the sidelines of multilateral meetings with a view to discuss shared regional interests, as well as to address regional and global security challenges.
Convene regular meetings between the Foreign Ministers and Senior Officials from respective Ministry of Foreign Affairs/External Affairs under existing mechanisms of Joint Committee for Bilateral Cooperation at the Foreign Ministers’ level and Foreign Office Consultations at the Senior Officials’ level.
Promote regular Parliamentary exchanges between both countries.
Defence and Security Cooperation
Strengthen the existing mechanisms of defence cooperation, as well as to promote further collaboration between the defence sectors of the two countries, with particular emphasis on defence technology, defence industry, research, training, exchanges, exercises and capacity building including by establishing appropriate mechanisms.
Enhance security cooperation through regular dialogues and exchanges between the respective security and law enforcement agencies/ organisations, also by including a Deputy National Security Adviser/ Secretary General level strategic dialogue between the Thai National Security Council and the National Security Council Secretariat of India, to address the increasingly challenging global and regional security environment and cooperate on both traditional and non-traditional security issues such as defence, maritime security, cybersecurity, counter terrorism, law enforcement issues and combating transnational organised crime like cyber-crimes, international economic crimes, anti-money laundering and human, drug, arms and wildlife trafficking, through exchange of information and intelligence, and sharing of best practices.
Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation
Welcome the increasing bilateral trade, which reached approximate US$ 15 billion in 2023-24 and seek to enhance sustainable bilateral trade to realise its full potential, through an expansion of economic linkages in potential areas. Promote sustainable trade in sectors such as value-added marine products, smartphones, electrical vehicles, food processing, petroleum products, auto components, services and pharmaceuticals.
Promote trade facilitation and to deepen cooperation under the existing agreements and frameworks, including the Framework Agreement for Establishing Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Thailand and India and the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). Provide greater impetus to bilateral trade by exploring the establishment of local currency-based settlement mechanism.
To support and expedite the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) to make it more user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for businesses, aiming to achieve substantial conclusion in 2025 and to strengthen supply chains between India and ASEAN Countries.
Connectivity
Enhance all modes of connectivity such as physical, digital and financial between India and Thailand and strengthen regional linkages, including through expediting the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway and its eastward extension, as well as the India, Myanmar and Thailand Motor Vehicles Agreement, strengthening regional maritime connectivity through coastal shipping and enhancing port-to-port connections and to encourage the civil aviation authorities of the two countries to continue engaging in discussions for enhancing air connectivity between both countries.
Regional, Multilateral and International Cooperation
Enhance cooperation between India and Thailand especially at the United Nations to promote constructive role of both sides on global issues of mutual concern and interest.
Strengthen cooperation between Thailand and India in multilateral frameworks such as G77 and South-South Cooperation to jointly advocate the voice of developing countries.
Further strengthen cooperation under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) framework for enhancing socio-economic development and connectivity of the region, and further strengthen the centuries old civilisational ties.
Promote the leading and proactive role of India and Thailand as founding members and the two largest economies of BIMSTEC in working towards a prosperous, resilient and open Bay of Bengal community, while capitalising on the commitment from the recent adoption of the BIMSTEC Charter as well as the unique character of BIMSTEC as a bridge between South and Southeast Asia. Strengthen BIMSTEC transport connectivity through implementation of the BIMSTEC Master Plan for Transport Connectivity and related agreements, including the Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation.
The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Prime Minister of the Republic of India agreed to task the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Thailand and the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India to coordinate with relevant agencies to formulate a Joint Plan of Action towards the effective implementation of the Strategic Partnership.